Ohio Governor Signs 'Alternative' Portfolio Bill
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Gov. Ted Strickland of coal-heavy Ohio has signed a bill pushing his state's electric distribution utilities to make sure that 25 percent of the power they sell comes from "alternative" resources by 2025.
Under Senate Bill 221, that would include juice coming from such renewable sources as wind and solar, to other forms of generation, including "clean" coal, fuel cells and advanced nuclear, according to a statement by Strickland (see statement here; bill text here) and a report in the Toledo Blade (see story here).
To meet the mandate that at least 25 percent of the power come from "alternative energy resources," Ohio's legislation requires that "at least half shall be generated from renewable energy resources, including one-half per cent from solar energy resources," in accordance with a number of annual benchmarks.
The Blade reported that the measure allows utilities to avoid full compliance with the standards if they can demonstrate that their attempts to comply would raise consumers' bills by 3 percent or more, a provision that disappointed some environmental groups.
In his statement, Strickland (pictured) lauded the measure:
"This bill, Senate Bill 221, will ensure predictability of affordable energy prices and maintain state controls necessary to protect Ohio jobs and businesses.
We will safeguard Ohio families by empowering consumers and modernizing Ohio’s energy infrastructure.
And we will attract the jobs of the future through an advanced energy portfolio standard—and today’s action by Ohio means that a majority of states now agree that these technologies represent the future of energy in the United States."
Strickland, a Democrat, also has backed an economic stimulus package for the state that includes $150 million to help make Ohio, which is both a big producer and consumer of coal, "a powerhouse of renewable and advanced energy production such as wind, solar and clean coal (see Climate Law Update story here).
The Ohio measure, signed May 1, comes as other states are also making efforts to boost the renewable portfolios of their utilities. Maryland recently took similar action, and other states, including Vermont and Utah, have also moved to increase the share of renewable energy flowing to consumers (see Climate Law Update stories here and here).
California remains among the most aggressive, with its mandate that private utilities achieve a 20 percent renewable goal by 2010, and it is considering upping that objective to require 33 percent renewables by 2020 (see background on California program here). California grants some flexibility, allowing utilities to come up short, for instance, if insufficient transmission facilities are available. But it also restricts the power sources that can comply with the standard to those defined as "renewable," including solar, wind, biomass, small hydro and other similar sources.
(Photo: Ohio governor's office)
